Page 45 of The Clifftop Cottage

Behind her, the statue of the grand man rose tall and certain, his name cut deep into the stone for all to see. His life – whatever it had been – declared worthy of being remembered.

And here, by the roadside, were the women.

The plaque was small. The words brief.

Near this spot, those accused of witchcraft met their fate.

That was all. No names. No stories. No acknowledgement of who they had been before fear had taken them.

A dog barked somewhere behind her, sharp and impatient.

Life, carrying on as if none of this had ever happened.

Erica focused back on the plaque.

It wasn’t just that they had suffered – it was that they had been forgotten. Reduced to a single, careful sentence, tucked out of the way where no one had to think about it for too long.

Her hands curled into fists.

They deserved more than this.

More than a quiet stone that no one noticed.

The morning suddenly brightened, sunlight pushing through the thinning mist, but the weight inside her didn’t lift.

She stood slowly, looking once more at the plaque and then at the towering statue beyond it.

Something inside her had settled.

No one cared. Even now, no one cared.

Well. That could change.

16

Leah stood by the window, her gaze resting on the mountains beyond the cliffs, her arms folded loosely across her chest. Erica couldn’t tell if her sister found the view peaceful or too much.

Either way, she was quiet in a way that felt heavier than usual.

On the rug, Maisie giggled as Lucky batted at the hem of her jumper, tiny paws catching in the soft knit. A downloaded princess film flickered on the television, filling the cottage with bright colours and gentle, tinkling music.

Erica dropped marshmallows into their mugs, the hot chocolate steaming sweetly.

“I still can’t believe you have a black cat,” Maisie said, scooping Lucky into her lap. “You just need a broom and a pointy hat and you can both go guising!”

“Guising?” Erica laughed and passed Leah her mug, studying her over the rim, but things didn’t sit right. Leah’s smile came and went too quickly.

Leah cleared her throat but her mouth twitched like she was trying not to laugh. “Maisie, that’s not how you ask, is it? Remember what we talked about?”

Maisie pouted for a moment, then climbed to her feet and clasped her hands dramatically.

“Auntie Eri, please will you come guising with me on Halloween?”

Erica pretended to consider it, tapping her chin, before breaking into a grin. “Of course I will.”

Maisie squealed and threw her arms around her. “I’m so happy!” She spun in a little circle. “If we both take a bag, we’ll get twice as many sweets!”

Leah sighed, trying not to smile. “That’s not how it works, you greedy wee thing. Only children get treats.”